Baby Growth Spurt?

Could my baby be going through a growth spurt? If so, what do I do?

If you look at a baby’s rate of growth on a chart, there aren’t usually noticeable bumps in the curve — it’s more of a steady path. Not surprisingly, the fastest gains come in the first six months, and then things slow down a bit for the second half of the year.

You’ll know your baby is going through a growth spurt when he has an insatiable appetite or seems excessively fussy or sleepy. If your baby just can’t seem to get enough of the bottle or the breast, the best thing to do is simply feed on demand and follow his cues. Even as adults, we have days when we’re either starving or just not that hungry, don’t we? So don’t get too caught up in what seems like a big change in appetite, and forget about trying to stick to your “usual schedule.” Monitor your baby’s diapers to see if there’s a noticeable change in wetness or stool, to make sure there isn’t some other explanation. And remember if you feel like your milk isn’t keeping up or your baby isn’t acting like you expect, it’s perfectly fine to call your pediatrician and get some personalized advice.